System and method for improving healthcare through social robotics

ABSTRACT

A computerized system comprising a social robot for interacting with a patient in order to improve the patient&#39;s adherence to a health or medical regime. A patient is instructed to perform a health activity (e.g., take medication, step on scale, measure glucose, play a game) at certain intervals in order to reach a specified goal or expected result. The results of the health activity are recorded in a wireless health device and transmitted to a computer. The computer interprets the result of health activity and communicates an action to the robot. If the patient performs the activity within a specified interval and results are consistent with the specified goal or expected result, the robot communicates a positive reaction. If the patient does not perform the activity within a specified interval, or if the results are not consistent with the specified goal or expected result, the robot communicates a negative reaction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/711,585 filed Feb. 24, 2010, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/155,391 filed Feb. 25, 2009, thedisclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to healthcare programs. Moreparticularly, exemplary embodiments relate to a system and method forassisting caregivers of the elderly through the introduction of a socialrobot which has been programmed to perform the roles of both ahealthcare tool as well as a companion. The social robot may be capableof performing numerous functions and may provide an interface totechnology that is more approachable for the elderly.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As the aging baby boomer generation approaches retirement age,healthcare providers are searching for ways to ease the burden of anincreasingly older population. Subsequent generations are migrating awayfrom their parents and grandparents which significantly increases therelevance of assisted living facilities in the lives of elderlypatients. Moreover, a rising life expectancy and dependence on a greaternumber of health professionals is contributing to a more expensivehealthcare system. Social robotics is a technology proposed to assistcaregivers in menial tasks as well as extend the independence andquality of life for aging individuals.

A social robot is an autonomous robot that interacts and communicateswith humans or other autonomous physical agents by following socialbehaviors and rules attached to its roles. The field of social roboticswas started in the 1940s-1950s. Autonomy is a requirement for socialrobots. A completely remote controlled robot cannot be considered to besocial because it does not make decisions by itself. In this vein, aremote-controlled robot is merely the extension of its human controller.This does not mean however that a robot must be completely autonomous tobe considered a social robot. A robot with only partial autonomy isoften times still considered to be social.

For many elderly patients, loneliness is a most serious condition. Manysenior citizens have been left widowed and/or in a nursing home or otherfacility with no one to come and visit. Many of these individuals sufferphysical ailments and set-backs due to a lack of social stimulation.Some institutions have recognized the benefits of domestically trainedpets in these situations and provide such companions to their elderlypatients. It has been concluded that pets can satisfy many of the needsof elderly patients and encourage them to hold on to the world ofreality and of intense emotional relationships.

One object of the present invention is to simulate the type of socialinteractivity elderly patients receive through developing a relationshipwith a pet through a social robot that is capable of providingadditional care-giving utilities. One exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention utilizes a robot, such as the PLEO™, previouslymanufactured by robotics developer UGOBE, as a platform for robotictechnology. The robotic dinosaur is an autonomous social robot whichimitates a baby Camarasauras maturing into a young adult. To performexemplary embodiments of the system and method of the present invention,the robotic dinosaur, is reprogrammed to perform the roles of both ahealthcare tool and companion. In many exemplary embodiments, thereprogrammed robotic dinosaur may provide an interface to technologythat is more approachable to the elderly. Additional exemplaryembodiments implement social robots other than a robotic dinosaur thathave been programmed to exhibit the desired applications.

In exemplary embodiments of the system and method of the presentinvention, a social robot is programmed so that it is capable ofsocially interacting with an elderly patient in order to improve thepatient's adherence to a health or medical regime. This interaction canbe carried out in such a way that the relationship formed between theelderly patient and the social robot increases the likelihood of thepatient taking his or her medication as scheduled. For example, in oneexemplary embodiment where a reprogrammed robotic dinosaur is beingutilized as the social robot interface, the robotic dinosaur may beginto exhibit symptoms of illness, discontent, etc., unless the elderlypatient takes his or her medication as scheduled. Because the elderlypatient has developed a relationship with the robotic dinosaur and caresfor its wellbeing, the patient will take his medication to benefit hisrobotic dinosaur. In exemplary embodiments, an intended consequence ofthe relationship formed between the elderly patient and the social robotis the improved healthcare of the elderly patient. In other exemplaryembodiments, the social robot may also be programmed to remind anelderly patient of important events as well as play games with theelderly patient. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, a social robot iscapable of interacting with an elderly patient and performing a memorygame.

In some exemplary embodiments, a social robot is at least partiallycontrolled remotely by an application run on a computer. The computermay be equipped with programs which make possible the monitoring ofvarious healthcare related statistics of an elderly patient. Forexample, the computer may have a program which monitors the patient'sweight and is able to produce various graphs and figures depicting thepatient's weight history. Some exemplary embodiments of the program keeptrack of a patient's weight goal and provide a healthcare provider withstatistics related to their patient's progress in meeting that goal. Iffor example a given patient is under weight, the program may be capableof providing the healthcare provider with information relating to theaverage number of calories the patient has been consuming per day andhow many additional calories should be added to the patient's diet tohelp the patient meet his or her ideal weight.

In one exemplary embodiment where a social robot is controlled remotelyby an application executing on a computer, the social robot acts as theprimary interface to the elderly patient that assists in the collectionof data utilized by the computer's application. In the exemplaryembodiment where the computer program is able to monitor a patient'sweight history, the social robot may be able to upload data from a scalewhich the patient uses to weigh him or her self. Additionally, the robotmay be able to react to the data which it uploads in order to encouragethe patient's compliance with a certain regimen. The regimen may includeperforming certain health activities at particular times or atparticular frequencies in order to reach a particular health goal. Forexample, if a certain patient using the present system is overweight,the health activity may include regular weigh-ins (e.g., weekly,bi-weekly, etc.). The health goal may be a target weight. The patientmay be encouraged to follow a special diet in order to lose weight.After performing the health activity (i.e., weigh-in), data uploadedinto the robot from the patient's scale may indicate that the patienthas gained weight since his or her last weigh-in. The robot may thenrespond to this result by conveying that it is disappointed. The patientis ideally encouraged to get back on his or her diet in order to receivea satisfied response from the robot at the next weigh-in. If the patientdoes not perform the health activity within an expected timeframe, therobot may be programmed to act in manner that serves as a reminder tothe patient to perform the health activity. In preferred exemplaryembodiments, data from a wireless healthcare device is not actuallyuploaded into the robot, but rather is uploaded directly into thecomputer which then sends a signal to the robot where the signal causesthe robot to exhibit a certain behavior.

In some exemplary embodiments where a social robot is controlledremotely by an application executing on a computer, the applicationutilizes data relating to many different healthcare issues. For example,the application may utilize data relating to a patient's blood pressure,heart rate, sleep schedule, physical activity, etc. A regiment forperforming health activities may be established for each of these healthconditions. For example, a patient may be instructed to measure his orher blood pressure daily. Results are compared to a target to determinewhether the patient is making progress toward a goal or within anexpected or preferred range. In a preferred embodiment, a social robotis programmed to exhibit responses based on all the data recorded in thecomputer's application. The responses exhibited by the social robotbased on the data recorded in the computer's application may dedifferent for each data set, but this is not required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the disclosed embodiments will be obtainedfrom a reading of the following detailed description and theaccompanying drawings wherein identical reference characters refer toidentical parts and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of the system andmethod of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of the softwareinterface of the system and method of the present invention whereinthree different exemplary embodiments of frames are shown.

FIG. 3 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of a main frame.

FIG. 4 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of a health graphframe which can be produced by the system and method of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of a daily scheduleframe that may be utilized by the system and method of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of a game framewhich may be utilized by the system and method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of a skit playerframe.

FIG. 8 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of a device managerframe.

FIG. 9 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of terminals whichmay be utilized by the system and method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary embodiment of a system for improving healthcare throughsocial robotics comprises a social robot, a computer, a program in thecomputer which enables communication between the computer and the robot,and a wireless healthcare device. In some exemplary embodiments, thecomputer program may also enable communication between the computer andthe wireless healthcare device. The program in the computer may comprisecode capable of handling communication with the social robot overserial/wireless connections. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, thecomputer receives data from the wireless electronic device where thedata relates to a health activity of the patient, processes the data,and transmits a behavior cue to the robot based on the received data.FIG. 1 shows a flow chart for an exemplary embodiment of the system andmethod of the present invention where the system comprises an exemplaryembodiment of a social robot 100, a computer 200, a program in thecomputer which enables communication between the computer 200 and therobot 100, and a wireless healthcare device 300. In a preferredexemplary embodiment, the program in the computer 200 is designed to beutilized by a system user who is the healthcare provider of an elderlypatient. A patient interacting with a social robot 100 may also beconsidered a system user.

The social robot utilized by the present system and method may be thePLEO™, previously manufactured by robotics developer UGOBE. The PLEO isan autonomous social robot which imitates a baby Camarasauras maturinginto a young adult. To perform an exemplary embodiment of the system andmethod of the present invention, the robotic dinosaur may bereprogrammed to perform the roles of both a healthcare tool andcompanion. In many exemplary embodiments, the reprogrammed roboticdinosaur may provide an interface to technology that is moreapproachable to the elderly. Additional exemplary embodiments implementsocial robots other than a robotic dinosaur.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, a social robot interacts with anelderly patient in a manner which causes the patient to adhere to ahealth regime. A robot of the present system and method may interactwith the patient in a manner that can, on some levels, be compared tothe type of interaction an individual would have with a pet. Forexample, a robot could be programmed to show signs of affection towardsa patient as well as to show signs that its survival depends on thewell-being of the patient. Both of these behaviors when exhibited by arobot could in some instances encourage a patient to adhere to a healthregime. For example, a robot could be programmed to exhibit signs ofhunger if a patient with whom it is interacting does not eat accordingto a pre-determined meal plan. If the patient has grown to care aboutthe robot, the patient may stick to his or her diet to ensure the robotdoes not exhibit signs of hunger. Similarly, a robot could be programmedto exhibit signs of illness if a patient does not take his or hermedication according to a specific schedule—if the patient does not wantto see the robot act ill, he or she may take the medication as requiredto prevent the robot from exhibiting this behavior.

In some exemplary embodiments, a robot may be programmed to show signsof approval or disapproval in response to certain behaviors exhibited bya patient. For example, if a patient is diabetic and is supposed tomeasure his or her blood glucose levels at certain times throughout theday, a robot may exhibit signs that it is pleased each time the patienttakes a reading at the appropriate time. In contrast, a robot mightshows signs that it is unhappy if a patient misses taking a measurement.There are many different signs of approval that a social robot could beprogrammed to exhibit including but not limited to the playing of acertain song, “smiling” at a patient, wagging a tail if it has one, etc.Signs of disapproval that could be exhibited by a robot comprise themaking of certain sounds, contorting its shape in a certain manner,turning its back on the patient, etc. The signs exhibited by a robot canin some embodiments be tailored to meet the needs and/or personality ofthe patient (or patients) with whom the robot interacts.

Though robots do not have emotions, one embodiment of the system andmethod comprises programming which permits the robot to exhibit actions,sounds, signals, etc. which could leave an impression in the mind of asystem user that the robot does in fact have emotions. In one preferredembodiment, a robot exhibits actions, sounds, signals, etc. that createthe impression that it cares about a system user. In some instanceswhere the system is being utilized by an elderly patient, the fact thata robot can exhibit actions, sounds, signals, etc. that create theimpression that the robot cares about the patient, the patient begins tothink of the robot as a friend and companion. The fact that the patientbegins to think of the robot as a friend may permit the robot to moreeasily assist the role of healthcare provider.

In some exemplary embodiments, a social robot interacts with anindividual and encourages him or her to take part in a certain behavior.In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the behavior requires utilizationof a healthcare device. In some exemplary embodiments comprising ahealthcare device, the healthcare device may be utilized to obtain datarelating to a patient's health activity. For example, a robot may make asound indicating that a patient needs to weigh himself with a scale. Inone exemplary embodiment, the scale is in communication with thecomputer that is also in communication with the robot. In this exemplaryembodiment, the scale could send an electronic message to the computerwhen the scale has recorded the weight of the individual. The messagemay comprise weight data as well as other data. Once the message hasbeen received by the computer, the computer may send an electronicmessage to the robot which could cause the robot to exhibit a certainbehavior. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the message sent to therobot depends on whether or not the data received from the healthcaredevice complies with a patient's regimen data. Regimen data may bestored in a database of the computer, but in some exemplary embodimentscomprising a database, the database may be located outside of thecomputer but can be accessed by the computer. In an exemplary embodimentwhere the health activity relates to a patient weighing himself, thebehavior exhibited by the robot could be in response to the patient'sweight that has been recorded by the scale, but it could also be inresponse to the fact that the individual weighed him or herself asscheduled (i.e., at a certain time). In exemplary embodiments comprisingregimen data, a regimen may comprise patient goal data, healthy andunhealthy level data, schedule data, etc. In a preferred exemplaryembodiment a given patient has more than one regimen where each regimenrelates to a different health activity. In some embodiments, a robot mayexhibit responses to multiple activities at the same time, in sequence,etc.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, a social robot reacts to the use ofat least one healthcare device. A scale, blood pressure cuff,thermometer, glucose meter, and urinalysis machine are just a few of thehealthcare devices that may be implemented in practicing the presentsystem and method. In some exemplary embodiments, a robot reacts to thehealthcare device by receiving a signal from a computer that haselectronically received data from the device. In a preferred exemplaryembodiment, when a wireless electronic device of the system has beenused to record a biometric measurement and the measurement falls withina healthy range, the robot with exhibit signs that it is healthy butwhen the measurement falls inside an unhealthy range the robot exhibitssigns that it is unhealthy.

Some exemplary embodiments implement Bluetooth® technology. Put simply,Bluetooth is a short-range wireless radio technology that allowselectronic devices to connect to one another. Generally, Bluetooth has arange of 30 ft. or greater depending on the Bluetooth Core SpecificationVersion being utilized. Some devices have Bluetooth ranges in excess of100 ft. Bluetooth devices utilize a radio broadcast system tocommunicate with one another thereby making it unnecessary for twodevices to be in line sight of each other for data to be exchanged. In apreferred exemplary embodiment, a healthcare device is Bluetooth enabledand once the device has been used to collect data, it can thenwirelessly transmit the data to another Bluetooth enabled device. Insome embodiments utilizing Bluetooth technology, data is wirelesslytransmitted straight from a healthcare device to the computer that is incommunication with the social robot. In some exemplary embodiments, ahealthcare device utilizes Bluetooth technology to send data to acomputer other than the computer that is in communication with thesocial robot. In these exemplary embodiments, the computer incommunication with the robot may later receive a signal from thecomputer communicating with the healthcare device that causes the robotto react to a measurement that has been taken with the healthcaredevice. In other exemplary embodiments, data may be transmitted from ahealthcare device that utilizes Bluetooth technology to a mobile phone,PDA, health appliance, etc.

In some exemplary embodiments comprising Bluetooth technology, thesystem may further comprise a Bluetooth Service Module. In someembodiments, a Bluetooth Service Module is accessed through a BluetoothService frame. In an preferred exemplary embodiment, a Bluetooth ServiceModule permits AnD medical devices to be registered with the computer sothat the application can detect AnD Bluetooth signals. In someembodiments, once a Bluetooth Service Module has enabled the detectionof AnD Bluetooth signals that have originated from a medical device, thecomputer program can then access the signals in order to obtain medicaldata concerning a patient that has utilized the medical device. Medicaldata may comprise weight data, blood glucose level data, blood pressuredata, etc.

In some exemplary embodiments of the present system, the systemcomprises a USB driver. In a preferred exemplary embodiment a USB driverconsists of a NAND-type flash memory storage device integrated with aUSB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. The USB driver may be bothremovable and rewritable. In some exemplary embodiments comprising a USBdriver, the driver is plugged into a port on the computer prior tooperating a social robot. In other exemplary embodiments, the USB driveris not plugged into the computer prior to utilizing a social robot, butrather it is plugged into the computer prior to running a certainapplication with the social robot. In a preferred exemplary embodiment,plugging the USB driver into a port on the computer enablescommunication between the computer and a social robot.

In some exemplary embodiments, the system and method of the presentinvention comprises a computer program. The computer program may bewritten in JAVA. In other exemplary embodiments, the computer program iswritten utilizing a software platform other than JAVA. In a preferredexemplary embodiment, a computer program creates a “robot interface.”The robot interface may comprise a display on a computer screen whichcontains information pertaining to data that has been received by thecomputer from the robot. The robot interface may also permit systemusers to instruct the computer program to cause certain data to be sentto the robot. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the present systemand method comprises a robot-interface with multiple frames. FIG. 2shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of a robot interface ofthe system and method of the present invention wherein three differentexemplary embodiments of frames 400, 402, 404 are shown. In oneexemplary embodiment at least one frame within the robot interfaceprovides access to a module (i.e., an application) of the system. Asshown in FIG. 2, exemplary frames 400 and 402 each provide access to amodule (the daily schedule module and the skit player modulerespectively). In another exemplary embodiment, a single frame withinthe robot-interface may provide access to more than one module.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the present system and method maycomprise a robot-interface with a “main frame.” In the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 2, an exemplary main frame 404 is shown. The mainframe 404 may be titled the “Robot Health Application.” In an exemplaryembodiment where the social robot comprises a robotic dinosaur, the mainframe 404 may be titled “Health Application.” FIG. 3 shows a screen shotof an exemplary embodiment of a main frame 404 titled “HealthApplication.” There are countless titles that could be given to a mainframe 404. In an exemplary embodiment comprising a main frame 404, auser of the present system and method may access the main frame 404 inorder to select the applications that he or she chooses to run with thesocial robot. In the exemplary main frame 404 shown in FIG. 3, it may beutilized to access the health graph, daily schedule, memory game, andskit player applications. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, selectingan application within the main frame 404 causes a new frame to be openedfor the selected application. In other exemplary embodiments, the mainframe 404 also provides access to healthcare applications that do notnecessarily implement the social robot. It is also possible that themain frame 404 provides access to other computer programs that are nothealthcare applications such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, email,etc.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the main frame 404 is the accesspoint to all of the system's applications. In some exemplaryembodiments, when the main frame 404 is closed, all of the system'sframes are automatically closed and therefore access to the system'sapplications cannot be had until the main frame 404 is reopened. Inother exemplary embodiments, the system can be configured such thatclosing the main frame 404 does not prevent access to all of thesystem's applications.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment where the present system and methodcomprise a robot-interface that comprises a main frame 404, the mainframe 404 may provide access to some or all of the followingapplications: device manager; event scheduler; graphical user interface;Bluetooth service module; health graph; skit player; medication regimen;memory game; weight program; and blood pressure program. In anotherexemplary embodiment, the main frame 404 may provide access toapplications other than those listed. In yet another exemplaryembodiment, some or all of these applications may be accessible from aframe other than a main frame 404.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the present system and methodcomprise a device manager application. In some exemplary embodiments, adevice manager application is accessible through a device and profilemanager frame. FIG. 8 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of adevice and profile manager frame 440. As shown in FIG. 8, a devicemanager application frame 440 may comprise a listing of the serialdevice profiles 690 that are recognized by the computer program. Thismay be a listing of different social robots being utilized, but it mayalso include serial devices other than social robots. A serial deviceother than a social robot may comprise a wireless healthcare device. Insome exemplary embodiments where a device manager comprises a listing ofsocial robots recognized by the computer program, the device managerfurther comprises information pertaining to different applications thathave been or are executing with those social robots.

When the present system and method comprises a device managerapplication, the device manager application may be utilized to add orremove the profile of a social robot. In some exemplary embodiments, adevice manager application frame 440 is utilized to add or remove theprofile of a social robot. In one exemplary embodiment, where theprofile of a social robot is added via a device manager, the computerprogram may then be utilized to communicate with the newly added robot.There are numerous ways a social robot could be added via a devicemanager application. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, a devicemanager application frame 440 comprises an “Add/Remove Devices Panel”700. As in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8, within the panel 700there may be a name field 712 where a system user can enter the name—orother identifying information—of a social robot (or other device) to beadded or removed. The panel 700 may also comprise a type field 714 wherea user may specify what type of device is being added or removed (i.e.,robot, wireless healthcare device, etc.). The Panel may further comprisesetting fields 716 where a user could configure the settings of a robotor other device to be added. In some embodiments, where only one type ofrobot is being utilized, such as PLEO's that have all been programmed inthe same fashion, it may be unnecessary for a system user to adjust thesetting fields prior to adding a robot. An Add/Remove Devices panel of adevice manager application frame 440 may further permit a system user todesignate the COM port being utilized by a particular robot or device.An add/remove devices panel 700 may comprise an add button 718, removeselected button 720, and a remove all button 722. In some exemplaryembodiments, a robot is added via a device manager application by asystem user who has entered information into an add/remove devices panel700 and has then electronically selected that the robot be added via theadd button 718. Electronic selection could occur via the use of a mouseor another pointing device that is in communication with the computer.In some embodiments, a robot or device could be removed by a system userwho has entered information into an add/remove devices panel 700 and hasthen electronically selected that the robot or device be removed via theremove selected button 720. In some exemplary embodiments,electronically selecting the remove all button 722 may cause all robotsand devices that have been added into the system to be removed.

In one exemplary embodiment comprising a device manager applicationframe 440 that comprises a list of added robots, the profile of a robotcan be removed when the system user selects/highlights the profile fromthe list and clicks on it with a pointing device and then selects the“remove selected” button. In an exemplary embodiment where the profileof a social robot has been removed via a device manager application, theremoved robot is no longer in communication with the computer runningthe computer program. In some configurations where the system comprisesa device manager application frame 440 that comprises an add/removedevices panel 700, the add/remove devices panel 700 can be utilized by auser of the system to both add and remove the profiles of robots. Inother exemplary configurations, there are separate panels to be utilizedby system users for adding and removing robot profiles from the system.A device and profile manager frame may further include a connectionspanel 710 for managing connections, ports, and user profiles.

In one exemplary embodiment, the present system and method comprises adevice manager application that can be accessed by system users as ameans of monitoring robots and other serial devices, but does notprovide the means for adding and/or removing those devices. In thisexemplary embodiment, the computer program may be configured to searchfor robots and serial devices that are turned on and within a certainrange of the computer and automatically adds them. Similarly, thecomputer program may be configured to remove the robots and other serialdevices when they have been turned off, moved outside of a certainrange, etc. In another exemplary embodiment, the computer program isconfigured to allow system users to add and remove the profiles ofrobots and other serial devices, but the computer program is alsoconfigured to have the profiles added and removed by some other means.

In exemplary embodiments comprising a device manager application, thedevice manager may provide direct access to the terminals of robots thathave been added into the system. In some exemplary embodiments, arobot's terminal may be displayed by a robot terminal frame. A robot'sterminal frame may contain information pertaining to that robot such aswhat applications have executed on the robot, the battery poweravailable to the robot, readings that may have been taken by the robot,robot performance data, etc. In some embodiments, a device managerapplication may also provide access to a debug log. A debug log may bedisplayed in a debug log frame, but a debug log may also be generated ina manner that does not require a frame. For example, a debug log may begenerated as an email message, word processing document, etc. In someexemplary embodiments, each robot that has been added into the systemhas its own debug log frame. In other exemplary embodiments, a singledebug log frame may be utilized to show the debug log for all the robotsof the system. In preferred exemplary embodiments, a debug log can beused to track any errors that may have been experienced by a robot. Forexample, a debug log for a single robot may display a list of all thetimes a system user attempted to run an application on the robot, butthe application was unsuccessfully carried out by the robot. The debuglog could also list any movement malfunctions experienced by a robot. Inone exemplary embodiment, a debug log comprises much of the informationa system user might need to determine whether or not a robot isfunctioning properly. There are many types of information that could beincorporated into a debug log of the present system and method. FIG. 9shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of a robot terminal frame450 and an exemplary embodiment of a debug log frame 460.

An exemplary embodiment of a system and method for improving healthcarethrough social robotics may comprise an event scheduler application. Anevent scheduler application may enable a system user to schedule when agiven robot is to perform certain functions for a patient. In someexemplary embodiments, the event scheduler application provides accessto a daily schedule (i.e., regimen) for a patient. The daily schedule ofa patient may comprise a list of events that are scheduled to play onthat patient's robotic device during the day. When more than one roboticdevice is being utilized, a daily schedule may provide a list of eventsthat are scheduled to play on all of the robots during a given day. Inthese exemplary embodiments, the schedule application may permit asingle healthcare provider to assist in the care giving of multiplepatients by coordinating the actions of numerous robots from a singlecomputer.

In some exemplary embodiments, schedules may be available in timeincrements other than a 24 hour period such as schedules for a week,month, etc. In a preferred exemplary embodiment comprising an eventscheduler application, a system user may access the application in orderto choose from a list of pre-created schedules as well as to create newones to suit their needs. Examples of events that may be scheduled viathe event scheduler are skits, responsive skits, and memory games, butthere are in fact many additional events that can be incorporated into aschedule of the present system and method.

An event scheduler application may be accessible through a dailyschedule frame. FIG. 5 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment ofa daily schedule frame 400 of the present system and method. In apreferred exemplary embodiment, a daily schedule frame 400 can be openedby a user selecting the daily schedule application in the main frame404. A daily schedule frame 400 may comprise a chart with a time column540 an event column 550 and a description column 560. In such anexemplary embodiment, the time column 540 may display only times duringwhich the robot is scheduled to perform an event, but in other exemplaryembodiments the time column 540 may additionally display non-scheduledtimes. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, a time column 540 displaysevery hour for a specified time period (such as a day, half of a day,week, etc.). An event column 550 within a daily schedule main frame 400may display a key word or key words for robot events that have beenscheduled. Examples of some key words that may be displayed in an eventcolumn 550 are shown in FIG. 5 and include “wakeup”, “breakfast”,“medication reminder”, “entertainment”, etc. A description column 560may be utilized to enter more detailed information concerning scheduledevents.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, a daily schedule frame 400 isinteractive. An interactive daily schedule frame 400 may permit a userto alter already scheduled events, add scheduled events, removescheduled events, etc. An interactive daily schedule frame 400 maypermit a user to highlight scheduled events to review, amend, etc.details about the scheduled events. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodimentof an event having been selected with a highlight 570. When an event hasbeen highlighted, the daily schedule frame 400 may present skit datadetails 580 for viewing.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the computer comprises a database.When the computer comprises a database, the database may be utilized forstoring regimen data relating to a health activity of a patient ormultiple patients. In preferred exemplary embodiments, the regimen dataof a patient is entered through the scheduling frame of the system'sscheduling application. Regimen data relating to a health activity of apatient may comprise a daily time at which the patient is supposed totake a measurement with a wireless healthcare device in communicationwith the computer. In other exemplary embodiments, regimen data maycomprise a variety of times at which a patient is supposed to take ameasurement with a wireless healthcare device in communication with thecomputer in which the variety of times are not necessarily a day apart.For example, a patient may need to measure his blood glucose levelsafter each meal. In other exemplary embodiments, regimen data maycomprise health goal data, healthy measurement data for the patient,unhealthy measurement data for the patient, etc. For example, anoverweight patient's regimen data may comprise daily weight goals thatthe patient is supposed to obtain to be successful in weight loss. Inother examples, regimen data may comprise the blood glucose level apatient is supposed to maintain. There are numerous types of regimendata that may be stored in a database of the present invention.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, a wireless healthcare deviceobtains data relating to a patient's health activity—such as weightrecorded by a scale—and transmits the data to the computer. Uponreceiving the data from the wireless healthcare device, the computerthen accesses the database storing the regimen data that relates to thehealthy activity and compares the received data with the stored regimendata. In the exemplary embodiment where the received data comprisesweight data, the stored regimen data may comprise a goal weight. Uponmaking the comparison, the computer transmits a signal to the robotcausing the robot to exhibit a certain behavior. The robot may be madeto exhibit one response if the data received matches the stored regimendata and a second response if the data received from the wireless devicedoes not match the regimen data.

In some exemplary embodiments, the system and method of the presentinvention comprise a computer program where the program comprisesXML-formatted data. When the computer program comprises XML-formatteddata, the system and method may further comprise an XML file loader.There are numerous types of file loaders that could be utilized.

In some exemplary embodiments, the system comprises a health graph.Examples of health graphs are a chart showing a patient's weighthistory, a graph of a patient's blood pressure readings taken over acertain period of time, a pie chart that shows a break-down of thenutrients that have been consumed by a patient, etc. A health graph ofthe system may be formulated by the computer program after it hasobtained data from a wireless medical device. In another exemplaryembodiment, a health graph may be formulated by the computer programafter it has obtained data that has been input manually into the systemby a system user. As an example of manual input, a system user couldutilize a keyboard to enter health data into a computer which could thenbe transformed into a health graph. In another exemplary embodiment, asocial robot sends a signal to a computer where the signal contains datathat is utilized in forming a health graph. In some instances, thecomputer program may automatically generate a health graph upon thereceipt of certain data. In other exemplary embodiments, a system usermay be required to enter a command prior to the generation of the healthgraph. There are numerous ways the system and method of the presentinvention can comprise and generate a health graph.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the system generates a health graphwhen a user selects a health graph application from the system's mainframe 404. Selecting a health graph application from the main frame 404may cause a health graph frame to be opened. When the system is able togenerate more than one type of graph (i.e., graphs that representdifferent data sets), there may be separate applications for each graphtype while in other exemplary embodiments a single application isutilized to generate more than one type of graph. In some exemplaryembodiments comprising a health graph, the health graph is exhibitedwith accompanying information that explains what is being shown by thegraph and may in some instances be accompanied by other information.FIG. 4 shows a screenshot of an exemplary embodiment of a health graphframe 420 of the present system where a graph 500 is exhibited withexplanatory information 510 where the explanatory information explainswhat is being shown by the graph 500 and technical information 520 thatexplains how the graph 500 can be used. The exemplary health graph frame420 of FIG. 4 additionally comprises a legend 530 for the graph 500.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises askit player application. A skit is defined as motions and sounds playedtogether in a sequence. A skit player application may be utilized toplay custom media through a social robot. In some exemplary embodiments,the application plays only skits that have been designed for theapplication. Skits may be utilized as the visual component of newhealthcare examples. Some skits that may be implemented by the presentsystem comprise a robot barking for attention, curling up and exhibitingsigns of illness, exhibiting praise of a patient for followingimplementing a healthy habit, etc. In some exemplary embodimentscomprising a skit player application, skits can be played by a socialrobot by opening the skit player application with the computer,electronically selecting the desired skit, and by electronicallyclicking the option to play the skit.

In some exemplary embodiments, a skit player application may be utilizedto play responsive skits through a social robot. A responsive skit is anevent which requires interaction from a system user. A responsive skitcan sometimes demonstrate the introduction of new logic to a socialrobot without replacing its personality. The response component of aresponsive skit can be triggered by accessory devices such as bloodpressure cuffs, pill dispensers, floor sensors for kitchen, etc. in someexemplary embodiments. For example, the system may be programmed toremind a patient to take his or her blood pressure at 1:00 PM. Once thetime of 1:00 PM is reached, the system can start to play a responsiveskit through a social robot where the responsive skit is designed toattract the patient's attention. If the patient ignores the robot, therobot may exhibit a special skit to the patient to signify it is beingignored. The ignored skit may be demonstrated at certain time intervalsuntil the patient has stopped ignoring the robot and has taken his orher blood pressure. Once the patient's blood pressure has been recorded,the social robot can exhibit certain responses based on the bloodpressure of the patient. If the blood pressure is at a desired level,the robot can exhibit a response that it is pleased; if the bloodpressure of the patient is unhealthy, the robot can act displeased bygroaning, etc.

In some exemplary embodiments comprising a responsive skit, theresponsive skit may comprise three components: an initial skit, anignored skit, and a respond skit. Where a responsive skit comprisesthree components, the initial skit may be the skit played by the robotat the start of a responsive event in order to get the attention of apatient. The ignored skit can be the skit that is played by the robotrepeatedly until the maximum number of repeats has been reached or untilthe software has received a response signal from a device. Finally, therespond skit may be the skit that is played by the robot once thesoftware has received a signal from a supported device. In someexemplary embodiments, responsive skits comprise more or less than threecomponents.

In exemplary embodiments comprising a skit player application and aresponsive skit that comprises three components, a responsive skit maybe played by accessing the skit player application, changing the mode to“responsive skit”, choosing which skits should be played for the initialskit, the ignored skit, and the response skit, setting the time periodthe robot will wait between ignored skits, setting the maximum number oftimes the robot will play the ignored skit, and by electronicallyselecting play. In other exemplary embodiments, not all of these actionsmust be taken prior to the robot playing a responsive skit. For example,in some embodiments, multiple components of a responsive skit can besaved together so that a system user need only select the file relatingto the particular skit which will then result in the playing of alldesired components.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, a skit player application isaccessible through a skit player frame. FIG. 7 shows a screen shot of anexemplary embodiment of a skit player frame 402 of an exemplary skitplayer application. In some exemplary embodiments comprising a skitplayer frame 402, the frame may be utilized to control the skitsexhibited by a social robot. For example, the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 7 comprises an ignored interval data field 610 and an ignoredrepeat data field 620. These data fields may permit a user to controlhow long the robot waits before exhibiting an ignored skit and how manytimes an ignored skit will be exhibited respectively. A skit playerframe may also comprise an initial skit field 630, a respond skit field640, and an ignored skit field 650 which permit a user to select thetype of skit a robot is to exhibit upon the occurrence of a certainevent or at a certain time. A skit player frame 402 may also comprise aplay button 660, a finish responsive skit button 670 and an end allbutton 680. In one exemplary embodiment, the type of skit entered intothe initial skit field 630 may be the skit exhibited by the robot when auser selects the play button 660. In this example, if the patient doesnot respond to the exhibited initial skit, the robot exhibits the typeof skit the user selected in the ignored skit field 650. The ignoredskit may be exhibited at the interval that was entered into the ignoredinterval field 610 and for the number of times that the user enteredinto the ignored repeats field 620 unless the patient responds to therobot. Once the patient responds to the robot, the robot may exhibit theskit that was entered into the respond skit field 640. The finishresponsive skit button 670 may be selected should the user wish to endthe game early while the end all button 680 may be selected to end anyof the exhibited skits being performed by the robot at any time.

In some exemplary embodiments, all skits to be played through a socialrobot are stored in a queue by the computer program. In these exemplaryembodiments further comprising a skit player application, the skitplayer application may use the queue in conjunction with the dailyschedule. For example, the daily schedule may indicate that a socialrobot is to play four different skits at certain times during the day.The event queue for that robot would then include those four skits. Insome exemplary embodiments where all events to be performed by a socialrobot are saved as a queue by the computer, a system user cannot use therobot to play a skit that has not been included in the daily scheduleuntil all the events already in the queue have been performed. In otherexemplary embodiments, a system user may override a social robot's eventqueue. In embodiments where a system user may override a social robot'sevent queue, the overriding may take place by the electronic selectionof an “end all” button contained in the skit player application.

Some exemplary embodiments will comprise more than one social robot. Inexemplary embodiments comprising more than one robot as well as a skitplayer application, it may be necessary for a system user to indicatewhich robot a particular skit is to be played on. In other exemplaryembodiments comprising more than one robot, when a computer receives asignal from an uploaded device, a responsive skit will be played on onlya single robot that has been made active by the computer. It is alsopossible for a single signal from an uploaded device to trigger aresponsive skit to be played by more than one robot.

In an exemplary embodiment, a social robot is capable of playing gameswith a system user. In a preferred embodiment, a robot plays games witha system user where the games are designed to encourage healthybehavior. An example of a game that could be played by a social robotwith a system user is a memory game that is similar to Simon, a gamewhere four panels light up and play sound in random sequences which theplayer must memorize. A social robot may comprise lights in order tocreate a memory game for a system user, but this is not necessary. Somesocial robots may utilize motion to play a memory game with a systemuser. For example, when it is the robot's turn, it could create asequence of movements using its front legs, head, and/or tail and thenwhen it is the user's turn, the user could attempt to recreate therobot's sequence by touching sensors that correspond to the robot'sjoints. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the robot has a number ofsignaling members (such as lights) and a number of sensors where thereis a sensor corresponding to each signaling member. When the signalingmembers comprise lights, the robot may play a memory game with a patientby exhibiting a sequence with its lights (i.e. by lighting andunlighting the lights in a pattern). The patient must then touch therobot's sensors in the same sequence. In a preferred exemplaryembodiment, the sensor that corresponds to a given signaling member willbe the sensor that is located the nearest to it. A signaling membercould also be a moveable member of the robot such as a robotic arm,robotic leg, robotic tail, etc.

There are many different games that a social robot could play with asystem user. When a social robot is capable of playing games with asystem user, the computer program of the system may comprise a gamemodule. The game module may be used to start a game with the socialrobot. In one exemplary embodiment, a game module is catered to aspecific social robot. A game module may be utilized to start a game onnumerous social robots at the same time. In one exemplary embodiment, agame frame provides access to a game module. FIG. 6 shows a screen shotof an exemplary embodiment of a game frame 430 of an exemplary gamemodule. As shown, a game frame 430 may comprise a start button 590 andan end button 600 which permit a user to instruct a robot to begin andend playing a game with a patient. In a preferred exemplary embodiment,there are multiple ways a user may instruct a robot to begin and endplaying a game with a patient. For example, a user may utilize the startbutton 590 and the end button 600 of a game frame 430 but he or she mayalso schedule the start and end of a game through the daily scheduleframe 400. In some exemplary embodiments, there are multiple game framesrepresenting different types of games the robot may play. In otherexemplary embodiments, a single game frame 400 may be utilized for morethan one type of game.

The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to beexhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. Theexemplary embodiments disclosed were chosen and described in order toexplain the principles of the invention so that others skilled in theart may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplaryembodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will realize thatmany variations and modifications may be made to affect the describedinvention. Many of those variations and modifications will provide thesame result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It isthe intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated bythe scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for improving the healthcare of apatient comprising: a programmable autonomous social robot configured tomove in ways that give the appearance of various behaviors and emotionalreactions and to play various sounds in sequence with said movements,said robot comprising a series of signaling devices and a series ofcorresponding touch sensors; a wireless healthcare device configured toreceive data regarding one or more health activities performed by thepatient using the wireless healthcare device; and a computer configuredto receive data from the wireless healthcare device, said computercomprising data representing healthcare goals for the one or more healthactivities, a schedule for performing the one or more health activities,and executable software instructions, which when executed configure therobot to: perform a positive emotional reaction skit when data receivedfrom the wireless healthcare device indicates progress towards therespective health goal, and perform a negative emotional reaction skitwhen data received from the wireless healthcare device indicatesregression from the respective health goal.
 2. The system of claim 1further comprising: memory game software instructions stored at thecomputer, which when executed configure the robot to: actuate one ormore of the signaling devices in a programmed sequence, monitor for auser sequence of triggered touch sensors in response to the programmedsequence, receive the user sequence from the robot, and compare the usersequence to the programmed sequence to determine if there is a match. 3.The system of claim 1 wherein: the robot has the appearance of anon-human animal.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein: the health activityis selected from the group consisting of: measuring the patient'sweight, measuring the patient's blood pressure, measuring the patient'stemperature, measuring the patient's glucose, and measuring thepatient's pulse.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein: the wirelesshealthcare device is selected from the group consisting of: a scale, ablood pressure cuff, a thermometer, a glucose meter, a pulse meter, anda urinalysis device.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein: said softwareinstructions, when executed, configure the robot to: move in ways whichgive the appearance of relief or pleasure as well as play particularsounds in sequence with said movements when performing said positiveemotional reaction skit; and move in ways which give the appearance ofdisappointment as well as play particular sounds in sequence with saidmovements when performing said negative emotional reaction skit.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1 further comprising: additional skit softwareinstructions stored at the computer, which when executed configure therobot to: perform an attention skit if a scheduled health activity isnot performed when scheduled, wait a predetermined amount of time, andperform an ignored skit if a scheduled health activity is not performedafter the predetermined amount of time.
 8. The system of claim 7wherein: said additional software instructions, when executed, configurethe robot to: move in ways which give the appearance of anxiety as wellas play particular sounds in sequence with said movements whenperforming said attention skit; and move in ways which give theappearance of hunger or illness as well as play particular sounds insequence with said movements when performing said ignored skit.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein: the computer is located at the robot.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein: the computer is located remote from the robotand communicates wirelessly with the robot.
 11. The system of claim 1further comprising: a display in electronic communication with thecomputer for displaying a graph of the health activity data over aperiod of time.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein: the signaling devicescomprise lights; and actuation of the signaling devices causes therespective signaling device to be illuminated.
 13. The system of claim12 wherein: the signaling devices comprise appendages of the robot; andactuation of the signaling devices causes the respective appendage tomove.
 14. A system for improving the healthcare of a patient comprising:a programmable social robot having the appearance of a non-human animal,wherein the robot is configured to move in ways that give the appearanceof various behaviors and emotional reactions; a wireless healthcaredevice configured to receive data regarding one or more healthactivities performed by the patient using the wireless healthcaredevice; and a computer configured to receive data from the wirelesshealthcare device, said computer comprising data representing healthcaregoals for the one or more health activities, a schedule for performingthe one or more health activities, and executable software instructions,which when executed configure the robot to: perform a positive emotionalreaction skit configured to reflect an appearance of pleasure or reliefwhen data received from the wireless healthcare device indicatesprogress towards the respective health goal, perform a negativeemotional reaction skit configured to reflect an appearance ofdisappointment when data received from the wireless healthcare deviceindicates regression from the respective health goal, perform anattention skit configured to reflect an appearance of anxiety if ascheduled health activity is not performed when scheduled, and performan ignored skit configured to reflect an appearance of hunger or illnessif the scheduled health activity is not performed after waiting apredetermined amount of time following performance of the attentionskit.
 15. The system of claim 14 further comprising: a plurality ofsignaling devices located on the robot; and a plurality of touch sensorslocated on the robot to correspond with each of said signaling devices.16. The system of claim 15 further comprising: memory game softwareinstructions stored at the computer, which when executed configure therobot to: actuate one or more of the signaling devices in a firstsequence, monitor for a user sequence of triggered touch sensors inresponse to the actuation of the signalizing devices in the firstsequence, receive the user sequence from the robot, and compare the usersequence to the first sequence to determine if there is a match.
 17. Thesystem of claim 14 wherein: the health activity is selected from thegroup consisting of: measuring the patient's weight, measuring thepatient's blood pressure, measuring the patient's temperature, measuringthe patient's glucose, and measuring the patient's pulse; and thewireless healthcare device is selected from the group consisting of: ascale, a blood pressure cuff, a thermometer, a glucose meter, a pulsemeter, and a urinalysis device.
 18. The system of claim 1 wherein: thecomputer is located remote from the robot and communicates wirelesslywith the robot.
 19. The system of claim 14 wherein: said softwareinstructions, when executed, configure the robot to play particularsounds in sequence with the movements of each of said positive emotionalreaction skit, said negative emotional reactions kit, said attentionskit, and said ignored skit.
 20. A system for improving the healthcareof a patient comprising: a programmable social robot having theappearance of a non-human animal, wherein the robot is configured tomove in ways that give the appearance of various emotional reactions,said robot comprising a number of lights and a number of touch sensors;a wireless healthcare device configured to receive data regarding one ormore health activities performed by the patient; and a computerconfigured to receive data from the wireless healthcare device, andstore data representing healthcare goals for the one or more healthactivities, and a schedule for performing the one or more healthactivities; said computer further including executable softwareinstructions, which when executed direct the robot to: perform apositive reaction when data received from the wireless healthcare deviceindicates progress towards the respective health goal, perform anegative reaction when data received from the wireless healthcare deviceindicates regression from the respective health goal, perform anattention reaction if a scheduled health activity is not performed whenscheduled, and perform a memory game by: actuating lights in a firstsequence, monitoring for a user sequence of triggered touch sensors inresponse to the first sequence, receiving the user sequence from therobot, and comparing the user sequence to the first sequence todetermine if there is a match.